Fall 2024

122 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 4 50 Years of Architectural Excellence Carmel’s Saroyan Masterbuilder B Y M I CHA E L CHAT F I E LD All Photos: Courtesy of Saroyan Masterbuilder C armel-by-the-Sea was founded 108 years ago. In that time, a handful of visionary architects and builders have shaped the character of its rich, distinctive and storied architectur- al heritage: Hugh Comstock, M.J. Murphy, Frank Lloyd Wright come to mind. Add to that list Al Saroyan, whose Saroyan Masterbuilder is cur- rently celebrating 50 years of designing, building and reimagining iconic Carmel area residential and commercial structures. Armed with a Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo architectural degree, Saroyan began his practice in 1974, hanging his shingle initially in his hometown of Fresno. However,“I have always loved Carmel and wanted to ultimately live here,” he says.“I bought a vacation home here in 1976 and made it my pri- mary and permanent residence when I moved the practice here in 1980.” Al Saroyan relocated his firm to Carmel from Fresno in 1980. He’d fallen in love with this village by the sea and, after owning a vacation home here, decided to make Carmel his family’s permanent residence.